Adultery and Lust

 As we continue learning the teachings and commands of Jesus, still being in the Sermon on the Mount, we learn about adultery.

Matthew 5:27-30 NIV

[27]  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Committing adultery is when a married person has sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse. Physically having sex with someone else other than your husband or wife. In American society, we call that "cheating" on your spouse. So, I presume the readers here understand what adultery is here in the text.

Now, once again, Jesus sets a new standard over what it said in the Old Law. He says that if you even look at another person lustfully, like you see a person and wish you could have sex with them, or you're sexually aroused by them, you commit adultery with them in your heart. 

You have heard it said,"thinking it is as bad as saying it?" Well here, thinking it is the same as doing it. So, we want to see all people from a healthy perspective, not a sexually motivated perspective. Put yourself in situations where you see people in a normal way, and you'll never commit adultery in your heart because of lusting after someone.

He goes on to say,

Matthew 5:29-30 NIV

[29] If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Figuratively, here He is saying to deal with sin directly and quickly. Confess and repent of sin, and then drastically cut it out of your life. Get rid of it immediately. Take measures to remove it from your life immediately. Then we will be good to go.

Don't entertain sin, or play around with sin, or let it casually remain in your life. It is a seed that will grow and cause all kinds of trouble. We don't need that, right? Life is hard enough as it is, without us adding to it. So, Jesus is saying that here. Get it out of your life immediately!!

So good! I love His teaching!!

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Stay tuned as we continue learning the commands and teachings of Jesus!!

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post